1. The Blossom-headed Parrakeet, LATHAM; Psittacus
erythrocephalus, LINNÆUS; Perruche à tête rouge de Gingi,
Buffon; Der Rothköpfige Sittich aus Gingi, BECHSTEIN.
The head is red, having on the back a mixture of light blue. A narrow
black line passes from the chin to the nape of the neck; another line,
of light green, below the former, forms with it a ring round the neck.
The rest of the plumage is green, but the under part of the body has a
tint of light yellow. The tail is green above, having the inner border
light yellow.
2. The Rose-headed Ring Parrakeet, LATHAM; Psittacus
erythrocephalus Bengalensis, LINNÆUS; Petite Perruche à tête
couleur de rose longs brins, BUFFON; Der Rothköpfige Sittich
aus Bengalen, BECHSTEIN.
The upper mandible is light yellow, the lower black, the membrane
brownish. The top of the head and cheeks are rose coloured, the back of
the head blue, the throat and ring like the preceding variety, as well
as the red spot on the wing-coverts; the two centre feathers of the tail
are blue, the others green, edged with blue.
3. The Borneo Parrakeet; Psittacus erythrocephalus Borneus,
LINNÆUS; Perruche à tête rouge de pêcher de Borneo; Der
Rothköpfige Sittich aus Borneo, BECHSTEIN.
The upper mandible is red, the under black, the membrane ash-coloured,
the iris the same; the whole head is peach-blossom, with a green tint on
the forehead; there is a black line between the eyes, near the membrane
of the beak; another extends from the lower mandible obliquely on each
side of the neck, widening on the back. The upper part of the body to
the tail is light green, shading to light yellow towards the middle of
the wing-coverts; all the under part from the chin is peach blossom,
tinged with chestnut colour; the feathers of the thighs, the
tail-coverts, and the middle of the belly, are green; the feathers of
the tail are the same, but the centre ones are rather brown, and all are
spotted with white.
OBSERVATIONS.--This parrakeet, so easily distinguished by its plumage,
is lively, fearful, and its cry is frequent. It learns nothing of
itself, and it is with great difficulty that it can be made to repeat
a few words. I have seen it, with the preceding and following
species, among the beautiful collection of birds belonging to his
Highness the Duke of Meiningen.